CHAPTER 3: AN ANNEXION AND A WALK
A week had passed since the battle at Canopus Farm. The Blood Ravens were labeled as great heroes by the people for acting so decisively and quick in that hour of crisis. The support for the Imperium had skyrocket, for losing even one farm could have drastically raised the prices of food in Vale and the other Kingdoms, as Vale lands were more fertile that any other kingdom and provided not insignificant amount of food.
The most veteran Blood Ravens, those who had survived their civil war, felt that pride and glory that day washed away a little the shame they carried. To commemorate this first victory on this planet of the many to came the Chaplain painted the gauntlets and bracers of the battle brothers that participated in the battle black and with red cracks, representing the injured skin of a Grimm.
Captain Aramus felt with good humor and allowed for once to speak and consume alcohol in the Evening Meal. Camaraderie and leisure were had and oaths of brotherhood and bonds were being forged or renewed in that night.
''Would you not join the festivities, Radfell?,'' asked Aramus to the librarian as he sat next to him, who was simply sitting in a table in one of the corners of the dining room with his meal and no alcohol.
''No, my Lord. I'm not someone inclined to celebrating or drinking,'' replied the psyker as he saw Felix trying to fix an entire roasted turkey, extracted form the farm originally for study of local wildlife, in his mouth and the neophytes following the jest.
''You should try to not spent too much time secluded in the Librarium alone. You may end like the Iron Snakes, not even knowing what a pillow is!'' Joked Aramus.
''You appeared to be inebriated, Brother-Captain,'' informed Radfell.
''Only for three hundred seconds.''
Only the Fenrisian Ale could ever hope to intoxicate an Astartes to the point of passing out, but the Ravens had yet to obtain the recipe of such concoction.
Aramus raised from the long bench. ''Be rested, I consulted the datalogs and you have been awake for two weeks straight. You won't be of any use tired, I order you to rest''
''As you order.'' The Librarian then began to make way for his private cell-chamber.
(-)
''It's that a metal box?'' This was heard among the the people of Vale as they saw the APC alongside the limousines. The retinue were exiting the airport escorted by vehicles of the VPD.
(-)
''No wonder you always are so defensive when anyone talks about these vehicles, my superficial scan reveal various technologies and alloys which use is restricted to almost exclusively the highest servants of the Omnissiah,'' commented Freely.
''Meh. Why aren't your Skitarii part of the escort?'' asked John, trying to change the subject.
''They unnerve the ignorant of the beauty of the metal, besides, they went on a walk.'' replied Freely.
John was curious about the last part but decided that it was too ironic for his taste to question her about eccentricities.
In the Rhino, however, there was worry.
''Brother Radfell, what is happening to you?'' asked one of the warriors.
Since they have enter the planet's atmosphere, the librarian had been suffering a headache.
''My witch sight is disturbed here, it's like trying to see underwater while inside a whirlpool. I suspect it to be cause by Dust particles floating in the air.''
''Any risks?'' inquired Aramus.
''No, it's just vexatious not been able to sense auras clearly.'' commented Radfell.
(-)
In in the forest Forever Fall, three Valkyries landed in a clearing, from them descended twenty of the cybernetic soldiers of the Mechanicum, the Skitarii and Delta Omega-03 robots.
They began to move in search of their mistress target, the TruhtSeeker, it had been developed by a rival of Freely and she wished to obtaining it to learn it's secrets.
(-)
Back in Vale, the retinue had already arrived at the doors of the Council Palace. The imperials founded it very similar to imperials building and contrasted with the rest of the city, the tower with a clock been the most notable part of the structure.
Ruby and Yang were waiting outside the metal fence. They had heard about Canopus Farm and Ruby had lamented that she wasn't able yet to go to Beacon so she may had go to that mission and see the newcomers weapons in person and decided to go to the palace and at least take a look,Yang in the other hand just went for pure curiosity, and skipping class.
''Look sis, here they are.'' Yang tapped her sister in the shoulder. ''Wait, is that a metal box...and limos?''
The vehicles stopped a moment in front of the barrier of the entrance until it lowered and then passed inside the compound, all while under the fire of camera flashes.
The vehicles then stopped in front of the door and opened their doors. Emissaries of the Adeptus Terra exited the cars escorted by soldiers and began walking towards the Council Palace main entrance. They thought this building matched more imperial architecture than any of the others buildings they had saw in their way.
The people of Remnant were perplexed by the anachronistic nature of the attires of the imperials. Archaic suits, robes and and ceremonial weapons more fitting of the Dark Ages nobility were mixed with advanced bionics and crude cables jacked into skulls, and the priests of the Adeptus Mechanicus scared more than one.
Then the APC opened its back ramps and then exited man wearing the same sets of armor that the one in the sketches draw by Coco Adel and posted in her LifeInvader when asked about the Space Marines. The only difference to be found were two men without helmet, one with is armor painted mostly in blue and carrying a long staff and the other sporting a more elaborated armor with a cape.
They all entered the palace and the doors closed behind then.
''Yang, did you see the hammer that Space Marine boss was carrying? I never seen a hammer that pretty or big in my life. I wonder what it does?'' said Ruby with puppy eyes.
Yang called upon all her restrain to not make a lewd joke about the last part.
''And the pirate guy? His face looked like mask,'' commented Yang. ''And how did you know Mr. Nail It was the boss?''
''The cape.'' replied Ruby.
''I don't follow.,'' answered Yang.
''The boss always has to had a cape, it makes him or her cooler,'' explained the huntress-in-training as she waived her caped hood.
''So you said that when you go to Beacon, you should be team leader cause you have a cape?'' asked Yang.
''Not to sound pretentious, but basically yes.''
Yang then grabbed Ruby and began to hug her with force. ''Oh, Rubes, you're just adorable.'' Her sister's face began to turn violet.
''Let got..no air.. Yaaaaang.'' Said Ruby as she fought for air.
(-)
Skitarii Master Awimoid-00 was angered. It had been hours since the star of the star of the search, and not a clue of the location of their prize had been found yet.
The Grimm made close aerial reconnaissance dangerous and the images taken from the Hyperion did not reveal nothing of substance, so a special request was made to Vale to let the army of the Mechanicus scout the Forever Fall forest.
He spoke trough Lingua-Technis. -Report status of search-
-Crimson/RM4 Infiltrator Squad. Nothing to report-
-Yttramar/OX3 Ranger to= Found hostile forces, engaging, enemy are Faunus militia know as White Fang.-
-Yttramar, continue to engage but avoid lethal shots. Crimson, the flank the enemy position and use non-lethal configuartion. Ave Omnissiah, we will be victorious- ordered Awimoid. ''My Lady's Mago Biologis allies wished for Faunus subject for extensive testing, I will deliver them and the TruthSeeker as tribute.''
(-)
''What the fuck are those things, new Atlas Knights?!'' asked a White Fang grunt with cat ears as blue bullets and lightning flew around them .
''It can't be, I don't see Atlesian pigs with them.''
''Doesn't matter, guys, we are outgunned and outnumbered we need to retreat and warn the Lieutenant.''
''Glad to have you here, Tukson, always stating the obvious''
Tukson then trowed a fire-ice Dust bomb causing a dense fog and as he noticed that the the robots had stopped shooting they started running towards the camp. As he ran he could have sworn to see something in the trees but decided ignored it.
After a few moments of running Tukson noticed something. ''Where's Sara?'' asked Tukson as they stopped behind trees to catch their breath.
''What? Holy shit, dude, she was behind me a second ago.''
''Maybe a Grimm got her?''
''And ignored the rest of us cause it was on a low fat diet.''
A white noise began to sound to deafening levels, leaving him pinned in the ground. The last thing he felt was a electric surge trough his body worse than any police taser.
(-)
It was afternoon when a holoscreen appeared in the clock tower. In the screen it could be seen all the most important members of the Councils next to Catherine.
''Citizens of Vale, citizens of Atlas, citizens of Vacuo and citizens of Mistral, I, Catherine du Coteau, Imperial Embassador by grace of His Majesty and His Adeptus and with the unanimous agreement of your magnanimous Councils it is that I declared that from today and henceforward Remnant shall join the ranks of the Imperium of Man. Ave Imperator, !''
The crow then exploded in cheers and cries.
Guards got close to the gates and lowered the barrier.
''The press vehicles may pass, everyone else out.'' said one guard.
The numerous vans filled with camera teams and journalist passed to the inner courtyard where they began to unload their equipment and personnel under the watchful eye of hunters and guards.
(-)
One hunter was patrolling the interiors of the palace with aloof face.
''Mental note one, never use the scroll while too drunk, two, complain about those pen pushers sending automatic request for missions with sexy robot lady voice.'' Thought Qrow. He then saw a man hidden in a corner while drinking from a bottle.'' Aren't you mister one of those imperials? I don't think drinking before a press conference is a good idea.'' said Qrow, trying to be professional.
''Actually, my double is going. And if I went myself, humanity has been consuming alcohol for more than fifty thousand years. What's wrong with asking advice to your oldest friend?'' answered John.
''I like this guy.'' thought Qrow.
''By the way, the name is John Decorus. And please drop the facade, I know that you are here because a woman voice's in mail offered to be part of the security and you're were so drunk that you though it was a waitress you had met making a indecent proposition and you pushed yes, by the time you noticed the error it was too late.''
''How did you know?'' asked Qrow a he assumed a fight stance. There were dangerous secrets in his head, and he preferred keeping them there.
''Don't worry for other stuff in you head, if I tried to read too deep into you, you would been in pain and killing me to making it stop.'' assured John. ''Besides I may have been in a similar situation once or twice. Tell you what, how about I make up to you and we go to have a drink somewhere else?''
''Seems fine. Name's Qrow.'' answered the seasoned huntsman.''Never too soon to make friends.''
Both walked for a moment before arriving at a room that caught Decorus fancy.
''Hmm... That's the private lounge of one of the council guys. Besides it's closed'' said Qrow.
''Watch and see.'' Jack grabbed a lockpick from a pocket and started to manipulate the lock of the door.
A few seconds later the door opened with a ''click'' sound.
''You're full of surprises.''
''Lock-picking is hardly a unnecessary skill in my line of job.''
(-)
In the conference room of the palace was Aramus and the rest of the diplomats were sited in front of hundreds of journalist.
Aramus felt uncomfortable with this much exposure, the Blood Ravens had educated him to focus in study, pray, and battle no grand parades and mortals.
''How curious that, despite being neighbors of the Ultramarines, we never cared for situations such as this,'' pondered Aramus.
Then it began the questions. And for Aramus annoyance, he was first.
''Lord Aramus, how did you obtain such physique?'' asked a fat man wearing glasses.
''The details of the process to become an Space Marine are partially classified, but I can say that I was enhanced since my puberty, approximately two centuries ago and it only works on males.''
''Pardon me, but did I heard two centuries?'' The confusion in the journalist's face was obvious, the man sited in front of him couldn't be a day over thirty.
''Yes, we age more slowly than normal humans and it's only superficial, we are biologically immortal. if I'm alive in other two centuries, I'll be as able, both physically and mentally, as I was when I completed my initial training.'' explained Aramus.
''Then when do Space Marines retire?''
Aramus knew that there's was a costume since the day of the Legiones Astartes that if a brother surpassed more than a thousand years of active service, he could ask for euthanasia. But no true Angel of Death would abandon the Crusade voluntarily.
''Our War is endless, Our Crusade is eternal.''
Two hours later the press conference had ended and the imperials were returning to their ships.
''Next time, I'm sending Siris, I can't stand this frivolities. Now I know why there isn't this freedom of ''press'' thing in most imperials worlds.'' thought Aramus as he exited the palace to enter the Rhino. He tend saw something, no, someone who caught his attention.
It was small girl wearing a red cape. Their stares interlocked by mere seconds, young and naïve silver eyes met veteran eyes of dreadful onyx, but it was enough to leaved an impression in the warrior.
Ruby was simply dumbfounded by the exchange with Aramus.
''Sis, as much I like that you finally had found interest in boys, the rule of half-your-age-plus-seven dictates that grisly centuries old warriors are out.'' informed Yang with a serious face.
''Blhuaaaagh, I wasn't looking at him like that!'' returned Ruby as she hit her sister in the shoulder. ''It was that his eyes, he looked so off.''
''Of course my dear FILFs sister,'' said Yang.
''What is that?'' asked Ruby, only to instantly regret doing it.
''Fathers I'd Like to...''
(-)
Magos Freely was sitting in the Aquila Ladder, if she had a mouth one could had seen a wide smile in her face. Her beloved skitarii had found the TruthSeeker while she was in the conference, and not only that, there was also five faunus, four alive, ready for her genetors to study, this would grant her more allies in the genetors of Graia and secure even further her ascension to Fabricator General once she returned.
+Magos Freely, I have a proposition for you, let me one of those faunus, and I can give in return even more.+ said voice in her head, that voice belonged to the Trader.
-You know I found telepathy to be extremely uncomfortable,''Trader''. And how did you find out?''- said trough a vox in a unique frequency, making it a soundless conversation for the rest.-
+Did you honestly think you could pull off anything, in my Hyperion, without me knowing? Get real. Let me interrogate them and keep the weak link of the chain and I promise to you dozens more.+
-How so?-
+A mole, time tested tactic. I convince him or her of turning in the rest of the pack to the authorities in exchange for living, only for all of them to end in your workshop. The authorities of Remnant won't let you study too deep the faunus, since they are in a weird spot, they hate them but not enough to enact a genocide or at least mass deportation.+
-Your reasoning is sound, I accept. Genetor Ishii, please hold examinations for time being. Chance for acquired more samples if we are patient.-
-Will comply, Magos Freely-
A/N:Remember this is my first fic, so if anyone feels like leaving a constructive review, just do it, I hardly offend at being corrected And I any of you guys/girls feels like being my Beta-Reader or knows someone who could, just send me a PM.
King Rocket: The Gauntlets of Ultramar used by Calgar were originally from a Chaos Marine killed by Guilliman. The wikia article on power armor also makes reference to Astartes putting the skull of worthy foes in their pauldrons, so it's not necessary heretical, just uncommon.